Follower-block for filing-cabinets.



L. E. MORE.

POLLOWEB. BLOCK FOR FILING CABINETS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1912.

1 067 831 Patented July 22, 1913.

IN VE N TUE 71 W LOG/U6 E. MORE.

" BY 'W%FTY@ CCCCCCCC PLANOGRAPM (10.. WASHINGTON. D- C,

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFTCE.

LUGIUS E. MORE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FOLLOWEB-BLOCK FOR FILING-CABINETS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUGI'US E. Morn, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Follower- Blocks for Filing-Cabinets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filing cabinet follower of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the follower. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 38 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the follower.

This invention relates generally to card index filing cabinets and more particularly to the follower that is adjustably positioned within the box or cabinet, and which forms a support for the cards or files contained in said box or cabinet.

The principal object of my invention is to construct a simple, inexpensive follower, the main body portion of which comprises a pair of upright members that are carried by a resilient base, which latter normally tends to spread the upper portions of the upright members apart so that the upper portions of the outer ends of said members or parts carried thereby will frictionally engage the inner faces of the side walls of the.

filing box or cabinet to hold or anchor the follower in its adjusted position.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive follower comprising a minimum number of parts and the resilient base of which follower being so arranged with respect to the upright portions of the follower as to be capable of being bent at its center in order to create greater or less tension in order that the degree of friction between the ends of the upright parts of the follower and the walls of the filing box or cabinet can be varied or regulated as desired.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, and particularly to the form of device illustrated in Figs, 1, 2 and 3, the main body Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 21, 1912.

Patented July 22, 1913. Serial No. 705,055.

portion of said follower comprises a pair of upright members 1, preferably wooden blocks, each having an inclined face 2 against which the files or cards are adapted to rest. Formed on the upper inner corners of these blocks are lugs 3 which are adapted to be engaged by the thumb and finger when the upper portions of the blocks are to be drawn toward one another when the follower is adjusted within or removed from the filing box or cabinet. The blocks or members 1 are spaced a slight distance apart, and applied to the undersides of said blocks and connecting the same is a flat, resilient plate 4, preferably of steel. The ends of this plate are fixed to the blocks 1 in any suitable manner, preferably by means of screws or like fastening devices. I prefer to form grooves 5 in the undersides of the blocks 1, which grooves receive the resilient connecting plate 4c, although, if desired, the undersides of said blocks may be perfectly straight and said plate applied thereto. Formed on the lower portions of the ends of the blocks or members 1 are transversely disposed bearing ribs 6 which normally lie immediately adjacent to the inner faces of the filing box or cabinet in which the follower is positioned in order to hold the follower in proper position and prevent undue lateral movement of said follower with respect to the box or cabinet. Fixed to and projecting outwardly from the upper portions of. the outer ends of the blocks 1 are plugs or pins 7 of rubber or analogous material, which plugs or pins. are adapted to frictionally contact with. the inner faces of the side walls of the box or cabinet, and thereby hold the follower in its adjusted position.

In the modified form of device illustrated in Fig. 4 the follower is stamped. or formed from a single piece of sheet metal and comprises a horizontally disposed, resilient base 8 from one edge of which extends upwardly a pair of plates 9 that are slightly inclined so as to form a support for the cards or files. Stamped from the upper portions of the upright members 9 are ears 10 that are bent into planes substantially at right angles to the plane occupied by the upright portions 9, said ears providing thumb and finger holds. Projecting from the upper portions of the ends of the plates 9 are pins or lugs 11 that are tipped with rubber or analogous material, and which pins frictionally engage the inner faces of the side walls'of the filing box when the follower is positioned therein.

The resiliency of the central portion of the base plate I normally tends to spread the upper portions of the blocks 1 apart, and thus when the follower is positioned in the filing box or cabinet the friction plugs or pins 7 are forced against the inner faces of the side walls of the filing box or cabinet, and thus the follower is effectually held in its adjusted position. WVhen the follower is to be adjusted lengthwise in the box or cabinet or is to be removed therefrom the lugs 3 are engaged between the thumb and finger. and as pressure is applied to said lugs, the upper portions of the blocks 1 are moved toward one another, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby overcoming the spreading tendency exerted by the resilient base 4-, and such movement draws the friction plugs or pins 7 away from the inner faces of the side walls of the filing box or cabinet, and the follower is now free to be adjusted lengthwise or removed from said box or cabinet. The central portion of the resilient plate fl, besides normally exerting a spreading action upon the blocks 1, performs the functions of a hinge between said blocks during their movements toward and away from each other.

If desired the central portion of the resilient plate may be bent slightly upward or downward, thereby varying the degree of pressure exerted by said resilient plate, and consequently varying the degree of frictional engagement between the plugs or pins on the ends of the follower and the inner faces of the walls of the box or cabinet.

A filing cabinet follower of my improved construction comprises a minimum number of parts, can be very cheaply produced, is readily adjusted within the filing box or cabinet and after adjustment said follower automatically engages the box or cabinet and maintains its adjusted position under the influence of the resilient base plate.

When the box in which my improved follower block is positioned is filled with cards or files the block canbe readily removed, thereby forming ample space for an additional number of cards or files.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved filing cabinet follower can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a filing cabinet follower, a base plate adapted to occupy a horizontal position in the bottom of a filing cabinet the central portion of which is resilient, and a pair of upright members carried by the end portions of said base plate, the upper portions of which upright members are normally spread apart under the resiliency of said base plate for engagement with the inner faces of the side walls of the filing cabinet.

2. In a filing cabinet follower, a base plate the central portion of which is resilient, a pair of upright members carried by the ends of said base plate, the upper portions of which upright members are normally spread apart under the influence of the resiliency of the central portion ofv said base plate, and friction bearing members on the upper, outer corners of said upright members.

3. A device of the class described comprising a resilient base plate adapted to occupy a horizontal position in the bottom of a filing cabinet, and a pair of upright members carried by the end portions of said resilient base plate, the upper portions of which members are spread apart under the influence of the resiliency of the central portion of said base plate.

4. In a filing cabinet follower, a base plate, the central portion of which is resilient, upright plates integral with the end portions of said base the front faces of which uprightplates are inclined relative to the base plate, and friction'members carried by the ends ofsaid upright members.

5. In a filing cabinet follower, a base plate, the central portion of which is resilient, a pair of upright card-supporting plates integral with the end portions of the base plate, the front faces of which upright plates are inclined with respect to a vertical plane and the upper portions of said upright plates being provided with ears adapted to be engaged by the thumb and finger for moving said upright plates against the power exerted by the resilient base plate.

6. In a filing cabinet follower, a base plate, the central portion of which is resilient, a pair of upright card-supporting plates integral with the end portions of said base plate, the front faces of which are inclined with respect toa vertical plane, and friction members on the ends of said upright members.

7. In a file cabinet follower, a base plate, the central portion of which is resilient and tends to normally depress the end portions of said plate with respect to said central portion, a pair of upright supporting plates on the end portions of said base plate, and friction members on the upper outer'corners of said upright plates.

8. In a filing cabinet follower, a resilient base, a pair of upright members carried thereby, bearing ribs formed on the end portions of said upright members, and friction devices on the ends of said upright members.

9. In a filing cabinet follower, a resilient base plate, a pair of upright card or file supporting plates carriedby the end portions of said base, which upright plates are normally forced apart under the influence of the resiliency of the base plate, and projections on said upright members adapted to be engaged to move the upper portions of said members toward each other.

10. In a filing cabinet follower the combination with a spring base plate, of a pair of card or file-supporting members carried by and projecting upwardly from the base plate and bearing ribs formed on the outer ends of said supporting members for limiting the transverse movement of the follower when the same is moved within the filing cabinet.

11. In a filing cabinet follower, the com bination with a spring base plate, of a pair of card or file-supporting members carried by and projecting upwardly from the base plate, bearing ribs formed on the ends of said supporting members for limiting the transverse movement of the follower when the same is moved within the filing cabinet, and friction members on the ends of said upright members for engaging the side walls of the cabinet to hold the follower in its adjusted. position.

12. In a filing cabinet follower, the combination with a spring base plate, of a pair of card or file-supporting members carried by and projecting upwardly from the base plate, bearing ribs formed on the ends of said supporting members for limiting the plate uniting the lower portions of said members and the central portion of which base plate is resilient and normally tends to spread apart the upper portions of the upright members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of June, 1912.

LUGIUS E. MORE.

l Vitnesses M. P. SMITH, C. S. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

